Friday, 22 March 2013

Frightful Imprecations.

Photographing Prisoners.

On Saturday morning last a ludicrous scene was
witnessed in the Preston Police Station. As is known, al persons charged with
felony, etc, are compelled to have their photographs taken, so that the police
authorities may “mark” them and
identify them in other places if ever they should offend again.
Following out this practice, a female convicted of felony was was on Saturday
ordered to stand in the Preston Police Station whilst hetr likeness was taken.
But to this she evinced a decided repugnance, and threatened to knock the
photographer and his appliances down if he attempted to take her portrait. The
police insisted, and ashe as pertinaciously reppelled their efforts, and threw herself upon her back on
the floor. On being raised up she
drew her hair over her face, and swore they should not have her photograph.
Seeing that persuasion was of no
avail, the constables had to use violence, and whilst one clutched her firmly
about the body another drew her hair back and held it tightly behind her head. Though thus secured, she employed
another means to defeat their purpose, and this was by making the most
ludicrous grimaces and putting out her tongue. She would, she said, rather
serve ten years penal servitude than than that they should take her photograph.
The photographer, after repeated attempts, which occupied little short of and
hour, succeeded in at last securing something like a normal likeness; and the
woman, who continued to use frightful imprecations, was conducted to the police
cell.

British Journal of Photography, November 2nd, 1877

Images from ledgers of police records dating to the 1870s found in an archive.....somewhere.